It’s probably safe to say that West Ham United came out victorious in the various transfer tussles involving one of Europe’s most historic clubs last summer.
Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus have certainly been bright spots in a sometimes dark season under David Moyes. Alvarez, who was the subject of a £50 million-plus bid from Chelsea some 12 months before his arrival at West Ham, is one of the few consistently-impressive performers in Moyes’ rather erratic team.
Kudus, meanwhile, is the latest mercurial maverick to capture the hearts of Hammers fans. There are shades of Paolo di Canio and Dimitri Payet about the way Kudus leads defenders in a merry dance, drawing gasps from an adoring crowd.
Ironically, the player Ajax brought in to help offset the loss of Kudus was also on West Ham’s radar.
West Ham United nearly signed Carlos Forbs
Ajax, according to Fabrizio Romano, hi-jacked West Ham’s deal at the eleventh hour, eventually stumping up £12 million to bring former Manchester City reserve Carlos Forbs to the Johan Cruyff Arena. But if Kudus has been a roaring success in the English capital, then the opposite is true of a man who has suddenly found himself turning out for Jong Ajax in the Dutch second tier.
“I try to develop at this club. So if I have to play for Jong Ajax or the first team, then I will,” Forbs told ESPN after scoring in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over play-off-chasing SC Cambuur.
“Of course, it is different. I always do my best for any team.”
Forbs is obviously determined to see the positives in the situation. But, after leaving Man City’s academy last summer, the Portugal Under 21 international did not join Ajax to continue playing reserve-team football.
“This season has had its ups and downs, but it is my first professional season,” Forbs adds. “So far, I am really enjoying it. Ajax is supporting me and hopefully we can build.
“Ajax can help me, and I can help Ajax.”
If Forbs cannot make an impact against the likes of PEC Zwolle, Fortuna Sittard and Almere City, it’s difficult to imagine that the one-time West Ham target would have made an impact similar to that of Kudus’ in claret and blue.
Former Manchester City kid dropped to Ajax’s reserves
HITC reported back in January that West Ham were still keeping tabs on Forbs, alongside Nottingham Forest and Burnley. Ajax told the forward he was free to leave in the winter. And, while Forbs obviously feels that he still has something to offer the struggling Dutch giants, it appears that not everyone in Amsterdam agrees.
“Forbs doesn’t understand it at all,” former Eredivisie defender Kees Kwakman tells ESPN of a forward who continues to look like a kid in a man’s game.
“He doesn’t understand that he has to act as a midfielder when the ball has passed (changed hands). Individually, guys like that just have no idea and the technical staff can’t get it done either.”
“(Forbs) has no quality. He is much too expensive for a youth player.”